Improvement in hoop-skirts



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE D. DAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN HOOP-SKIRTS.

Specification forming part, of Letters Patent No. 45,392, dated December L3, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, THEODORE D. DAY, of

y the city and State of New York, have inv the hoops at the front part ofthe skirt.

Skirts have heretofore been made with'the hoops separated at the sides and united by joints, so that the skirt would fall in the front portion when the person was seated. The hoops have also been divided at the back ot' the skirt with a similar object in view, as shown in my patent of September 20, 1864.

rEhe nature of my present invention consists in joints formed in the hoops in the front part,

so that the skirt will fold inward at this point between the legs as the person wearing such skirts sits down, and will occupy little or no more room than the clothing would without said skirt, because the hoops curve around and fold together inward in a heart-shape, (il) the joints of the hoops passing between the legs as the hoops themselves bend around and con form closely to the person in a sitting postu e.

When the person rises, thehoops resume their natural circular shape.

In the drawings, a a are the hoops, of any desired character or number, united to each other by tapes or other connections c c, pass` ing from one to the other and to the waistband d. All of the hoops, or any desired number of them, below the bustle-hoops are to be united to each other at the front by a suitable joint, so that they may be folded at this point.

In Fig. 2 I have shown such joints as formed by eyelets l 1, introduced in atape, b, and reeeiving the hook ended -or tongued clasps 2, that secure the ends of the hoops to the tape, and, passing through the said eyelets l, prevents the ends of the hoops from separating or .drawing` away from each other. This con struction forms a strong joint, at the same time one that will freely allow the hoops to fold in the manner and for the purpose before set forth.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Forming joints in the front portion of skeleton skirts in the manner speeitled in order that the skirt may be folded or compressed when the person is seated, as set forth.

.In witness whereof l have hereunto set my signature this 9th day ot' November, i364.

\Vitnesses: THEO. D. DAY.

Tiros. GEO. HAROLD, OHAs. H. SMITH. 

